Wally Ziaja
Encyclopedia
Walter “Wally” Ziaja is a retired American soccer defender
. He spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League
and was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He also earned four caps with the U.S. national team
between 1971 and 1973.
at 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich
. The U.S. went 0-2-1 in group play and failed to qualify for the second round. Ziaja played only one match, the 7-0 loss to West Germany. He earned his first cap on March 20, 1973 in a 4-0 loss to Poland
. His last game was a 2-0 loss to Israel
on November 15, 1973.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). At the end of the season, the Chiefs moved to Denver where it became the Denver Dynamos
. Ziaja played the 1974 NASL season with the Dynamo then left the league.
. In 2002, he became the girl’s soccer coach at Whitefish Bay High School
.
He is a member of the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He also earned four caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
between 1971 and 1973.
National teams
Ziaja was selected to play with the U.S. teamUnited States at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The United States competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 400 competitors, 316 men and 84 women, took part in 185 events in 21 sports.-Medalists:...
at 1972 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Football competition at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Nürnberg, Passau, and Regensburg.-Medalists:-Group A: ---- -----------------Group B: ---- ----------------...
in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. The U.S. went 0-2-1 in group play and failed to qualify for the second round. Ziaja played only one match, the 7-0 loss to West Germany. He earned his first cap on March 20, 1973 in a 4-0 loss to Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
. His last game was a 2-0 loss to Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
on November 15, 1973.
Professional
In 1973, Ziaja signed with the Atlanta ChiefsAtlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). At the end of the season, the Chiefs moved to Denver where it became the Denver Dynamos
Denver Dynamos
The Denver Dynamos were a soccer team based out of Denver that played in the NASL from 1974 to 1975.Their home field was Mile High Stadium. After the 1975 season, they moved to Minnesota and became the Minnesota Kicks.-Year-by-year:...
. Ziaja played the 1974 NASL season with the Dynamo then left the league.
Coach
Ziaja later went on to coach at Arrowhead High SchoolArrowhead High School
Arrowhead High School is a high school located in Hartland, Wisconsin. Sitting on of land, the school has two campuses, a North Campus and a South Campus. Juniors and Seniors attend the North Campus, while Freshmen and Sophomores attend the South Campus....
. In 2002, he became the girl’s soccer coach at Whitefish Bay High School
Whitefish Bay High School
Whitefish Bay High School is a comprehensive public secondary school located in the village of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin, United States. Approximately 950 students attend the school from September through June, in grades 9 through 12...
.
He is a member of the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame.